Game of skill



Nov. 1o, 1931.Y

R. w; STEWART GAME OF SKILL i Filed March w7, 1.931 S'Sheets-S'heet 2 /nvsnron rranncfa Nav. 1o, 1931. R w, STEWART 1,831,581

GAME oF SKILL Filed March 7, 1931 '3 sheets-sheet a ESS. bl 5a y ,iw f1 1 f1 .n H 5e hifi-3' /nvENTon 1f. www

Patented Nav. 1o, 1931 UNITEDV sTATEs PATENT OFFICE RICHARD w. STEWART, orA'UBURN, NEW YORK,v ASSIGNOR 'ro mmol! GOLF' TABLE conromirron 'Gaim or sim.;

.Application led March 7, 1931. Serial No. 520,824.

5 ually propelled on to an inclined surface or playing field to pass downwardly thereon b gravity into or past apertures denoting di ferent values for the shot, and which surface is provided with a pluralityof vertically eX- tending pins to deflect the ball in its move:-

ment, it frequently happens that the ball will lodge against one of the pins and come to rest.

When this occurs, it is necessary to tilt or tip the apparatus in order to dislodge the ball, and this is a cause of annoyance to the players and alsoA entails wear and tear on thel apparatus.

The main obj ect of my invention is to provide a game of the class described which is so constructed that, under no circumstances, can a ball become lodged against 'a pin. Another object is to provide a device in which the opening of the ball magazines is coin-controlled in such a manner that the magazines havin been opened must be allowed to close be ore the game may be again played.

Another object is to provide a control device for the ball magazines which may be actuated at any time without any possibility of its becoming jammed even though the player should operate this device before all of the balls lf rom the playing field hadl reached a magazine.

Another object is to provide a device which is so constructed that the amount -of initial velocity given a ball will determine whether or not the ball will move down the playing lield or will move past the same into a penalty receptacle.

Another object is to provide a devicelof such a design that balls entering certain y different apertures will be deposited in the same magazine. v

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts, all as will more fully appear-from the following descriptionV taken` in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved game.

Figure 2 is a sectionon line 2 2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig-y ure 8.

. Figure 4 is a top plan view, on line 4--4 of Figure 6, showing the device with the protective glass removed.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Figvure 6.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 1; v

Figure 7 'is a section on line 7 7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a section on line.'4 8--8 of Figure 2, l

vMy device comprises a main frame 1 supported in spaced relation to the Hoor as by legs 2.

As perhaps may best be seen from Figure 6, the rear end -aof main frame 1 is higher than the-front end -b-, and I have found that to have the upper face of main frame `at an angle of six degrees with the floor gives' a satisfactory playing surface.

Themain frame 1 comprises a flat bottom member 3 shownhere as made of wood.

A playing surface 4, also here shown as made of wood, is secured in spaced relation to the bottom member 2, the distance between them' bein suflicient to permit the movement therein o the balls used in employing the device.- n

Side boards 5 and 6, referring to Figure 4, extend upwardly above the playing surface 4, a rear end board 7 connecting side boards 5 and 6. In parallel relation to side boards 5 and 6, I provide vertically extendmg strips 8 and 9 spaced suiiciently from side boards 5 and 6 to permit thev passage therebetween of the'balls used with the device.

At the rear end of the device, I provide va. c

curved vertically extending strip 10' substany strips 8 and 9 which terminate some distancefrom the rear end a,-. y

The playing surface 4 is provided with a plurality, in this case shown as nine, of apertures sufliciently largeto permit the passage therethrough of the, balls used with the dev1ce.

The apertures just referred to carry indicia of different denominations, the aperture 11 carrying the indicium 300, apertures 12 and 13 carrying the indicium 150, aperture 14 carrying the indicium 200, apertures 15 and 16 carrying the indicium 100, apertures 17 and 18 carrying the indicium 25, and aperture 19 carrying the indicium 50.

For 'the purpose of rendering more didicult the movement of a ball to any given aperture, I provide on the playing surface 4 a plurality, in this case shown as one hundred and twenty, vertically extending posts 25 arranged in spaced lines parallel with the end board 7, the posts in any given line being in staggered relation to the posts in the adjacent line or lines.

The distance between adjacent posts is sufy icient to permit the passage therebetween of a ball used with the device.

Aperture 11 is positioned centrally of the playing surface 4, and adjacent the rear end of the device, and beyond the first of the posts 25. Apertures 12 and 13 are disposed in spaced relation downwardly from aperture 11 and in approximately the samespaced relation thereto. Aperture 14 is positioned at approximately the central point of playing surface 4. Apertures 15 and 16 are positioned in spaced relation below aperture 14 and in approximately the same spaced relation thereto.

Aperture 17 is positioned in a V-shaped recess 26 at the lower end of the playing surface 4, and aperture 18 is positioned in a similar V-shaped recess 27 also at the lower end of playing surface, recesses 26 and 27 being disposed adjacent opposite sides of the lower end of playing surface 4.

Aperture 19 is positioned in a V-shaped recess 28 at the lower end of playing surface 4 intermediate recesses 26 and 27.

It has been found in games of the kind here described that frequently a ball in its passage down the playing surface would become lodged against one of the posts on the playing surface and it would then be neces- Isary to jar or tilt the device in order to dislodge the ball. To obviate the possibility of any such lodgment of a ball in my device, I provide adjacenteach post 25 and above e same, a rounded disk 29 whichv is so disp sed as to divert ra. ball from avpath whichl would permit it to Contact a post from a direction which would cause the ball to be lodged against the post to prevent its further gravitational movement. s

I also provide similar disks as 29 at the upper end of the strips 8 and 9 so that a ball cannot become lodged against the end s of such strips'S and 9.

v not permit the passage of a ball but will permit the passage of a cue or stick used in giving the initial impulse to a ball when the apparatusjs being used. f

For the purpose of protecting the playing surface from dirt and wear, and for preventing any manual interference with the travel of a ball on such surface, I prefer to provide` a glass cover for the playing surface bet-Ween the strips 8 and 9 and the curved strip 10, such glass 2O being secured in position vby moldings 21 and 22, see Figure 1, the upper edges of side boards 5 and 6 being provided with moldings 23 and 24 to make them the same height as the strips 8 and 9 with their superimposed moldings 21 and 22.

At the front or lower end of my device, I

provide a plurality, in this 4case shown as seven, of vertically extending ball magazines 3l. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37. These ball magazines are open at each end with their upper ends terminating at the edge of the front end of bottom member 3, bottom member 3 being Acut away at its central portion, as shown in Figure 5, so that the magazines 31 to 37l may be positioned in a recess in the front end of the device.

The recess 38 is deeper than the width of the magazines 31 to 37 and is provided at its lower end with a bottom board 39, see Figures 2 and 6, having a lip 40 on its outer end.

The front sides of the magazines 31 to 37 are formed by a glass 41 which extends from side to side of the recess 38 so that it-is possible to see how many balls are in each of the magazines 31 to 37.

The lower edge of glass 41 is supported by a cross piece 42 which extends' from side to side of recess 38. Cross piece 42 has its lower edge in spaced relation to bottom board 39, a suilicient distance to permit the passage therebeneath of balls released from the magazines 31 to 37 so that the same may roll downwardly on bottom board 39, which is slanted downwardly, to come to rest against lip 40 so that they may be conveniently picked up bythe operator of-the device.

[So that there may be no chance for a ball dropping from a magazine to pass forwardly with suicient force to jump over lip 40, I prefer to provide on the rear face of cross piece 42, a rearwardly extending baiie 43 which will deiect balls rearwardly of recess 38 before they start forwardly by gravity.

Referring to Figure 5, I provide on botvtom member 3, a means for directing balls These directing means consist of spaced tunnels through which a ball may move by gravity.

Tunnel -chas its upper end directly beneath aperture 11 which carries indiciuni 300, and is so formed and positioned that 'it will lead a ball dropping through aperture 11 towards and into magazine 32, which car# ries indicium 300, and it is so positioned that it does not pass beneath any other aperture in playing surface 4.

Tunnel -alhas its upper end positioned beneath aperture 13 carrying indicium 150,

and has a branch -ol, the upper end of which is positioned beneath the aperture 12 carrying indicium 150 so that the tunnel may direct balls dropping through either aperture 12 or aperture 13 towards and into magazine 36,A which also'carries indicium 150. Tunnel -dis so positioned that it does not pass beneath any aperture except apertures 12 and 13.

Tunnel -ehas its upper-end positioned beneathL aperture 14 which carries indicium 200, and is so formed as to direct a ball dropping through aperture 14 towards and into magazine 33, which also carries indiciun 200. Tunnel -edoes not pass beneath any aperture other than aperture 14.

Tunnel'I -f is suiiiciently wide so that it is positioned beneath apertures 15 and 16, each of which carry indicium 100, and is so positioned asl to direct balls dropping through apertues 15 and 16 towards and into magazine 35, which alsocarries indiciuni 100. Tunnel -fdoes not pass beneath any aperture except apertures 15 and 16.

Tunnel -gis positioned beneath aper- 1 ture 17 carrying indicium 25, and directs any ball dropping through aperture 17 towards and into magazine 31, which also carries indicium 25 and does not pass beneath any other aperture.

Tunnel -h is positioned beneath aperture 18 carrying indicium 25', and directs the ball dropping through aperturev 18 towards and into magazine 37, which also car-V ries indiciuin 25, and does not pass beneath and other aperture.

Tunnel is positioned beneath-aperture 19 carrying indicium 50 and directs a ball dropping through aperture 19 towardsand into magazine 34, which also carries indicium 50 without passing beneath any other aperture.

The recess 38 has opposed side boards 44 and 45 which 4extend rearwardly beneathbottom member 3 a short distance rearwardly of the rear faces of the magazines 31 to 437. Adjacent the rear face of magazines 31 to 37, and in spaced relation to permitpivotal movement thereof, isa cross member 46 having one end pivoted to side board 44 and The lower end of member 46 is provided' with a plurality of forwardly extending iingers 47 in spaced relation, a finger 47 being which may be in any of the tunnels -c-, l

f 7 from being deposited into such magazines .31 to 37. Otherwise it Iwould be possible for a player to hold the coin-controlled device in the open position and use the balls continuously without being obliged to place another coin in such device after all of the balls have been played.

The fingers 48 are composed of spring metal'with their lower `ends secured some distanceidownwardly on the member 46 as by screws 49 so that in case Athe member v46 'is manipulated to close the upper-ends of magazines 31 to 37 at a. moment when a ball or balls are about to be deposited in the magazines, such member or members 48 contacting with such balls may spring backwardly so that there may be` no possibility of the device becoming jammed.

To the rear ends ofside boards '44 and 45 is secured a cross bar 50. A coil spring 51 hasone end secured to member 46 above its pivots and has the other end secured to cross bar 50 to normally hold the upper end of meinber46 rearwardly and the lower end forwardly with the ingers 47 across the lower open ends of the magazines 31 to 37.

Adjacent the side board 45 and in spaced relation thereto, I provide an auxiliary side .board 52 which extends from the front edge of recess 38 backwardly to a leg 2 to form a compartment.

A door 53 having a lock 54 is provided to close .the front end of the compartment formed between side board 45 and auxiliary side board 52.

On the upper end of side board 45 is positioned a coin-controlled device 53 having its operating mechanism in the compartment formed by side board 45 and auxiliary sideV board 52, and having on its outer end `an op erating wing nut 54.

The coin-controlled device may b'e' of any desired type, but I have found that a satisfactory one is that described in re-issue Patent No. 14,905 dated July 6, 1920 and issued to Alfred D. vAntoine et al, assignors to Advance Machine Co., Chicago, Ill., for Detector for check-actuated machines.

65 having the other end pivoted to side board 45. l The coin-controlled'device is provided with the lower ends of magazines 31 to 37 to allow any balls which may be in such magazines to drop downwardly on to bottom board 38 and thence forwardly against lip 40.

It will be understood that the device 53 may be manipulated' only when a coin has been placed therein through a slot 59.

When the wing nut 54 has been released after manipulating the coin controlled de-. vice 53, the spring 51 will cause the member 46 to be moved about its pivots in the reverse direction. to bring the fingers 47 into registration. with the lower ends of magazines 3l to 37, and to bring the fingers out of registration with the upper ends of magazines 31 to 37: This action of spring 51 will also,

through link 57 and crank arm 56, cause the rocking of rock arm in the reverse direction to place the coin-controlled device 53 in the normal position ready for the insertion of an additional coin and further ma-` nipulation.

After the coin-controlled device 53has been manipulated and released, the coin which was inserted therein will drop downwardly there'- from and for convenience, I prefer to provide in thebottom of the compartment formed between side board 45 'and auxiliary side board 52, a receptacle as 60 which may be removed and emptied when the door 45 has been opened.

. For the purpose of completely inclosing the movable parts of the device, I provide a lclosure 61 which extends from a leg 2 on one side of the device to anopposite leg 2 on the other side of the device, the closure 61 being positioned immediately in the rear of the cross bar 50.

For the purpose of providing a conven-' ient storage place for balls, I prefer to pro'- vide a recess 63 around the recess 38. above the upper ends of magazines 31 to 37.

In playing the game, the player isV provided with a plurality of balls, and I have found the ordinary golf ball to be a convenient size. -The player places the balls in turn inthe lower end of the slot formed b y side board 6 and strip 9, or in the lower end ofthe slot .formed by' side board 5 and strip 8. By means of a billard cue or other stick, he

j propels the ball upwardly on to the playing surf ce 4. When moving down the playing sur ace 4, the vball will enter some one of the apertures in' such playing surface, and will be 'deposited in a magazine carrying indicium which corresponds to the indicium on the aperture through which the ball drops.

vWhen all of the balls have been used and deposited in the magazines, the number of balls in each magazine is multiplied by the indicium on such magazine and the amounts so obtained are added together to determine the players total score.

Although not essential, I prefer that a player be penalized a certain amount for each all which he propels with such force that it moves past the playing field into the slot which is opposite that from which it was started.

When one player has used` all the balls allotted to him, and I have found ten is a good number to use, the coin-controlled mechanism 53 may be actuated to release the balls from the magazines 31 to 37 and make them available for use of the next player.

It will be understood that the materials of which my device is constructed may be varied, as may be" the size, shape and dimensions of the various parts of the device, for although I have shown and described a specific structure and form and relation of parts as an exemplification of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relation of parts, as .various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a main frame, an inclined. playing surface having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of upwardly extending spaced posts intermediate the apertures, rounded disks on the playing surface adjacent the posts, ball magazines below the playing surface, tunnels leading from the apertures to the ball magazines, and' spring lingers adapted to be moved to and from positions across the upper ends of the magazines. I

2. In a device of the classdescribed, a main frame, an inclined playing surface having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of up-V wardly extending spaced posts intermediate the apertures, rounded disks on the playing surface adjacent the posts, ball magazines vbelow the playing surface, tunnels leading from the apertures to the ball magazines. movable means for clpsing the lower ends of the magazines, and spring fingers adapted to be moved to and from. positions across the upper endso -of the magazines.

3. In a device` of the class described, a main l frame, an inclined playing surface having a.

plurality of apertures, a plurality of upwardly extending spaced posts intermediate the apertures, roundeddisks on the playing surface adjacent the posts, ball magazines belowthe playing surface, tunnels leading from' the apertures to the ball magazines, a piyoted member having a plurality of ngers on its lower end and ax plurality of spring llingers on its upper end, and means for pivoting said member to bring said fingersi alternately across opposite ends of the magazines.

In a device of the class described, a main frame, an inclined playing surface having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of upwardly extending spaced posts intermediate the apertures, ball magazines below the playing surface, tunnels leading from the a ertures to the ball magazines,l a pivoted mem er having a plurality of spaced fingers on its lower end and a plurality of spaced resilient fingers yieldingly secured to its upper end, and means for pivoting said member to bring said fingers alternately across opposite ends of magazines.

- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February, 1931.

RICHARD W. STEWART. 

